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Here we are at the end of February and Believe or not temperatures for the month actually averaged near normal. These cold temperatures at the end of the month though really offset the unseasonable warmth we had way back at the end of January and beginning of February. Of course, this put a stop to early vegetative growth and development for wheat and pastures and may have damaged some early swelling buds. Look for dry cool conditions to continue today, and We’ll see a return to rainy weather late tomorrow into Thursday with snow in the mountains. There may be additional scattered light rain and snow showers Thursday night and Friday. Most farms in the inland northwest can expect at least a third of an inch of moisture, but farms near the Cascades and in the Palouse and Blue Mountain foothills should get ½ to 1 inch. This moisture combined with temperatures in the 30s and 10-15 mph winds will cause moderate cold stress for exposed newborn calves and lambs or any weak animals. Extra care or shelter may be needed. Soil temperatures are holding in the low and mid 30s and will rise slowly into the mid and upper 30s by next week. So it’s still too cold for good germination of spring wheat. And looking out into the longer range models, there does not appear to be a sustained period with above normal temperatures into mid March.